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Berlin (dpa) - After the surprising cup out in Kiel, FC Bayern is challenged in the Bundesliga against SC Freiburg.

Another mistake threatens the loss of the championship lead.

In the table cellar, FC Schalke 04 is hoping for the next step.

There is an explosive coaching duel in Cologne.

BAVARIAN WEAKNESS: After two defeats in a row, FC Bayern really wants to show a reaction.

"We have to tick it off," said coach Hansi Flick.

The end in the cup means the end of the triple goal of Munich, who absolutely want to defend the top of the table against SC Freiburg.

Flick urgently needs to stabilize the defensive.

The last time they conceded as many goals as they did in the first 15 match days of this season was in the 1981/82 season.

Manuel Neuer has been waiting for the Oliver Kahn record of 196 clean sheets to be set in the Bundesliga since the end of October.

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CHANGES IN MIND AT SCHALKE: With the end of the negative series after 30 games without a win, the mood at FC Schalke 04 has noticeably brightened.

The 4-0 win against Hoffenheim gives courage for a successful comeback before the game on Sunday in Frankfurt.

“But we have to be humble.

We know how to assess our situation very well.

We'll have to improve in the coming games because we still have a few points to catch up, ”said goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann, who regained his number one status under coach Christian Gross in a duel with Frederik Rönnow.

In Frankfurt you have to show the same team spirit as against TSG, says Fährmann: "With the mentality, with passion and solidarity, we can still achieve a lot."

TRAINER: Markus Gisdol and Bruno Labbadia know the pitfalls of the coaching business - after all, both of them have worked for Hamburger SV before.

With their current clubs 1. FC Köln and Hertha BSC, things are going very badly at the moment.

16th and 12th place are far too few for the respective demands on the Rhine and in the capital.

Now Gisdol and Labbadia face each other in a direct duel on Saturday.

The loser will have specific concerns about his job.

In Cologne, manager Horst Heldt was evasive about Gisdol's perspective.

In Berlin, Labbadia and Michael Preetz are still sitting side by side.

The Hertha manager knows well that his post is also controversial.

GLADBACHER SUCCESS TRIO: With two victories in the new year, the Gladbachers have reconnected to the international ranks before the game at VfB Stuttgart.

That is certainly less due to the time out of sports director Max Eberl, who has canceled for January.

The most recent guarantors of success were the German national players Lars Stindl, Jonas Hofmann and Florian Neuhaus, who are currently in excellent shape and are also candidates for the European Football Championship this summer.

The focus is primarily on Neuhaus - also at other clubs.

But coach Marco Rose knows: “Florian is a clever guy.

He will have a real sense of making the right decisions. "

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